She is devoted to cultivating immortality

Chapter 122: Studying Things to Gain Knowledge, the Shepherd Boy and the Cow

The old goat demon has horns on his head, wears a cloth Confucian robe, and has a goatee that is combed meticulously. He looks like an old scholar.

Hongyu has been with the old scholar for many years and has seen many such old men, but she never expected that the monster in the mountains would behave like this.

No wonder there are so few monsters around.

Hongyu was a woman of good character and intelligence, and she knew how to deal with such an old man. She followed Confucian rules in her etiquette, bowing gracefully with standard movements that were pleasing to the eye, leaving the old goat with a very good impression of her.

Hongyu was polite, and he raised his glass in return.

"Miss Hongyu is very polite. My name is Gongyang, and my given name is Ru. Have you ever been educated and can you read?"

Hongyu nodded, and said with a bit of reserve: "By chance, I once received instruction from an old scholar down the mountain. I can't say I'm well-read, but I can just read a few characters and understand a few principles."

The old goat demon stroked his beard and smiled, saying happily: "There are profound meanings in the book. Wild demons in the mountains are hard to tame. It is very rare for Miss Hongyu to have such a background and know some truths."

The fox and the sheep immediately started chatting.

Hongyu has real talent and knowledge, and Gongyangru has been studying for half his life.

They talked more and more, and the atmosphere became harmonious. Taking this opportunity, Hongyu suddenly said, "It's a pity that there is a senior coming in the future. Her talent and knowledge are a hundred times better than mine. If she meets you, you will definitely hit it off and have a great conversation."

Gong Yangru's eyes lit up, and he asked hurriedly, "Who is this demon? Where is he practicing and studying now?"

Hongyu smiled but said nothing. Gongyangru blushed and bowed to apologize, "I am sorry for being rude."

Hongyu immediately dodged the gift and said, "If you really want to get to know me, old sir, you can come to the fox cave under the red maple tree to find me tomorrow. Then I will bring you to visit me."

…………

After talking for a while, Hongyu returned to her seat.

The other male demons were about to come over to chat when an old fox appeared. It was the old man of the Hu Mansion. He was flanked by the eldest son of the Hu Mansion and a young girl, standing on his left and right, with a very friendly attitude.

"I am Hu Wu, the owner of the Hu Mansion. I have just moved here with my family. Thank you all for coming to support us and congratulate us on our move."

The demons did not dare to delay and immediately stood up to respond.

"You are too polite, old man. It is a blessing for the outer area of ​​Tiaolun Mountain that your family can settle here."

"You are too kind, old man. The Hu family is big and powerful. It is a blessing for us to be invited."

The main reason why they were so polite, besides being treated with courtesy, was that this Master Hu Wu was actually a great demon.

Even though he tried to restrain himself, he still had an aura of pressure that far exceeded that of the Dao consciousness realm, which made the other monsters dare not neglect him.

At the same time, he understood why the Hu family dared to reveal their strength and were not afraid of being robbed. It turned out that there was a powerful monster in charge, so they had nothing to fear.

After a few polite words, Old Master Hu announced the start of the banquet.

The fox servants who had been waiting for a long time came in one after another, serving roast chicken, roast duck, steamed fish and goose with pickled mustard, cakes and aged wine and other delicacies. The living room was immediately filled with fragrance, which made the monsters happy.

Hongyu was surprised and looked at the Hu family again.

The old scholar's family was not poor, and she had seen a lot of the world with him. He had even attended village banquets. The standard of the Hu family's banquets was higher than any other in the village. They were probably not an ordinary family in the county.

Although her mind was full of thoughts, Hongyu remained calm on the surface. She tasted the wine and delicacies attentively. She also toasted the young fox demon and the old goat in the Hu Mansion. Her etiquette and rules were quite good.

This made everyone in the Hu family have a much better impression of her.

The lights were bright and the banquet was lively.

The banquet did not end until the bright moon set in the west.

The demons left the table. Looking at the messy scene, Old Master Hu and his eldest son Hu Shulang smiled at each other and shook their heads helplessly.

If they had not had to, why would they give up their foundation in the county, hide in the mountains and forests, and start over?

A young girl at the side said with guilt: "It's all Qin Niang's fault. She brought disaster to the family and forced my father and brother to leave their hometown."

Old Master Hu helped his daughter up and said in a gentle voice:

"How can I blame you?"

"My Hu family is blocking the City God's way. Even without you, he will not give up and will find a reason to make trouble. If my Hu family does not want to annex, we can only withdraw from the county."

"I am lucky to be able to get out of this unscathed like today."

…………

Early the next morning, the sun rose in the east.

The morning light is as red as fire, and the morning glow decorates the sky.

A titmouse, with its whole body green, stood on the top of the red maple tree, and a red fox quickly came out of its fox hole.

The titmouse chirped and said, "Hongyu, you used the secret technique and summoned me urgently. Is there something urgent?"

The red fox spoke in human language and briefly told the story of the old goat, and urged: "Go and report to the master quickly. I will take Gong Yangru with me today so that the master can make preparations early."

The titmouse did not dare to delay and immediately flapped its wings and flew away.

She had wanted to ask about the wild banquet at the Hu residence, but she had heard from her fellow tribesmen early in the morning that it was extremely lively, with dozens of monsters alone attending. Now she could only discuss the matter in detail another day, as her master's affairs were the most important.

"My Lord, my Lord! Yingniang has something important to report..."

Next to the paulownia tree, a cicada crawled out of its hole.

After listening to the report from the tit, he said he understood and asked her to continue to inquire about the news, and then returned to the cave.

In the cave, she was in silent contemplation.

With the foundation bestowed by the immortal spiritual consciousness of the deity, Empress Xie, it is not difficult to subdue the old goat.

Through the old scholar beside Hongyu, Jin Chanzi had long known that although Confucianism was prevalent in this world, there were no Confucian classics such as "The Analects of Confucius".

The founder was Confucius, not the Master.

What's more, in the past, with Hongyu's help, there were many books in the cave, which were put into the Ruyi Bag by her and were never damaged.

With a plan in mind, Jin Chanzi took out a blank bamboo slip, raised his front paw, dipped it in ink, carved and wrote, and waited for the old goat to come.

The old goat demon was really concerned about this matter and was eager to find a like-minded friend, so he ran to the outside of the fox cave early in the morning. Jin Chanzi didn't have to wait long before Hongyu brought him to her door.

"My lord, I, Hongyu, am here with Mr. Gongyang. Please come and see me, lord."

A hole appeared on the ground and a young cicada crawled out of it. After hearing Hongyu's words and seeing the cicada monster again, the old goat monster was surprised, but he didn't know that he had been deceived and tricked.

He suddenly became furious and glared.

Jin Chanzi immediately comforted him, "Old sir, please don't be upset with Hongyu. I ordered her to act this way."

"It's not easy for a cicada demon to cultivate. Before reaching the rank, I really don't want to publicize my reputation, show up in public, and cause trouble."

"I invited the girl here to make a deal with her."

The old goat demon said unhappily, "If you have something to say, please speak up. I have to go back to the cave to study the scriptures."

Jin Chanzi did not point out the purpose immediately, but used his magic power to take out a bamboo slip from the cave and put it in front of the old goat demon.

"I know that you are well-read and knowledgeable. This is the poem I wrote for you. I hope you will appreciate it."

Gong Yangru snorted coldly, wanting to stiffen his neck and refuse, but he couldn't resist his curiosity, so he hesitated for a moment and said proudly:

"You asked me to taste it, but I didn't want to see it."

"I want to see what kind of poetry you, a liar to me, can write. If your writing is not good and your words are not expressive, don't blame me for being merciless."

He opened the bamboo slips awkwardly, and the words came into his sight. The handwriting was neat, the lines were smooth, and it was quite elegant. The old goat's expression eased a lot, because this monster's handwriting was better than his.

After reading it carefully again, the old goat's eyes suddenly widened and he read out loud unconsciously:

His snow-white body shows masculinity, and his gentle nature brings good luck.

Decorate the mountains and forests to add beauty, make friends with dragons and horses and let them run wild.

The golden sheep is bright and prosperous, while the green ant is fragrant and brings long-lasting fortune.

The nine realms are returning to spring and purple air is rising, and the flowers of well-off life are blooming with fragrance throughout the universe.

…………

“What a great poem ‘Ode to the Sheep’!”

"What a beautiful phrase! The golden sheep brings prosperity and wealth!"

The forest was silent, and the old goat demon was shaking with excitement.

He solemnly put away the bamboo slips, and looked at Jin Chanzi with a gaze so bright that it was frightening, and his beard was curled up with excitement.

It was as if he was not an old Confucian scholar, but a young boy who had met a great Confucian scholar, dancing with joy.

The next moment, he knelt on the ground and said solemnly:
"Just now I was unreasonable and blind, and I didn't recognize your talent. I hope you won't blame me."

"To be honest, I am a big fan of poetry and books. I once went down the mountain to study in my early years, but I was not careful enough and my identity was revealed. I almost died."

"After escaping back to the mountains, I never gave up and devoted myself to studying. However, I had no famous teacher to teach me, so it was difficult to make progress."

"Your talent is a hundred times better than mine. I beg you to accept me as your disciple and teach me. I will respect you and be grateful to you for the rest of my life."

Every word is sincere and every sentence is from the heart.

Hongyu was stunned and looked shocked.

The titmouse, who was watching the fun, almost fell off the fox's head.

Jin Chanzi was caught off guard and was shocked.

No one expected that the old goat demon would suddenly do this.

Next to the paulownia tree, outside the cave.

Jin Chanzi was the first to react.

She knew that the old goat demon would most likely be impressed by the poem "Ode to the Goat". After all, no matter how talented the mountain demon was, he was at best slightly better than Hongyu. Otherwise, he would have entered the world long ago.

Of course, there may be some knowledgeable hidden demons in the mountains, but such beings are extremely wise and are at least high-level demons, which are not comparable to the old goat demon.

But I never expected that this old demon would directly ask to become his disciple.

While she was shocked, she was also moved by the old goat demon's desire to learn. If he hadn't had a pure heart, how could he have lost his sense of proportion?
Waving his front paws, Jin Chanzi released a stream of magic power to lift up the old goat demon. In a gentle tone, he spoke:
"Senior is an elder, how can you take me as your master?"

"To be honest, I asked Hongyu to invite the elder here this time because I want to ask for two things:
One is that I hope the elder can help me set up formations in the future to deal with the ninth-grade thunder tribulation, so that I can improve my cultivation and achieve higher levels of merit.

Secondly, I want to establish a demon school for the Tiaolun Mountain Cicada Clan in the future. I hope that the elders can serve as the headmaster and teach the younger generations to read and write, open their minds and wisdom, perform the merit of education, and establish the virtue of creation. "

Establishing a demon school is one of her missions, because this will be very useful for me, Empress Xie, to obtain the demon-summoning banner.
It’s not that Jin Chanzi doesn’t want to take the opportunity to recruit Old Sheep as his apprentice. This way, the relationship will be more solid than that of master and servant.

But she knew she could only rely on the Confucian classics and poems stored in the immortal spiritual consciousness given to her by her mother to add the finishing touch at the critical moment. If she really wanted to teach the meaning of the scriptures, she was no match for the old sheep demon.

Not to mention, we need to teach and answer their questions.

Her own spiritual practice and knowledge of Confucianism and Taoism were only half-baked and her foundation was shallow, far from the stage of establishing a school and accepting disciples.

Fortunately, after a brief contact, Jin Chanzi figured out the sheep demon's character. This was an old Confucian in sheep's clothing.

He has a bit of the aloofness of a scholar, yet is still straightforward.

To deal with this kind of monster, one cannot use false and hypocritical tactics. She first stated her purpose in a way that was 70% true and 30% false to comfort the old sheep monster; then she used her education to paint a rosy picture for the old sheep monster.

To catch a snake, you have to catch it at its most vulnerable part. The power of education has a fatal temptation to the Confucian monster and will definitely make the old sheep monster tempted.

As expected, the old demon was moved, his body trembled with excitement, his eyes became brighter, shining like stars, and he looked at Jin Chanzi as if he had seen a wise master with discerning eyes, and said with excitement, his face flushed:
"Where education is not established, all evil will be unrighteous!"

"Young lady, you have such great ambitions. I admire you very much. I am willing to give my broken body to you, follow you, give lectures, educate all the monsters, open a monster clan school, and benefit the monster clan of Tiaolun Mountain."

At this point, the old sheep demon seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Jin Chanzi's eyes were as sharp as torches, and he could see through his mind. He understood the demon's intention and said, "I know what you are thinking, elder. If you agree, you can read all the books in my cave. You can also discuss Confucian truths with me, discuss principles, learn from each other, and study things to gain knowledge."

As soon as the words fell, the old goat demon immediately asked: "Excuse me, young lady, what is the meaning of studying things to gain knowledge?"

"To study things is to study the principles of things, to explore the laws of all things, to see the truth through phenomena; to acquire knowledge, usefulness is the corner, uselessness is the grid, and the emphasis is on application."

"To study things and to acquire knowledge is to apply truth to reality and to understand the truth from reality. To acquire knowledge is to study things. Only after studying things can knowledge be acquired. Mind and matter are one. When the mind is right, things will be right."

The old goat demon was stunned for a moment, as if he had suddenly been enlightened, with wise thoughts rushing through his mind and aura floating around his body.

At this moment, he understood his future path.

When the old goat demon woke up, Jin Chanzi said happily: "Congratulations to the elder for seeing your true nature and realizing the truth."

The old goat demon was overjoyed and bowed first.

"Thank you for your guidance, young lady."

Then he knelt on the ground, performed the ritual of kneeling three times and kowtow nine times, with an expression more solemn than ever before, and said solemnly:
"Gong Yangru of Qiuzhen Cave in Tiaolun Mountain pays homage to the master. From now on, I am willing to follow the master's lead and share his worries and troubles."

Jin Chanzi nodded with satisfaction and used his magic power to lift Gong Yangru up.

She did not use demon-controlling magic or cicada poison to control the old sheep demon, not because she couldn't, but because there was no need to.

The old sheep monster has some scholarly spirit and is a real book monster. His character includes the ideal characteristics of "a scholar will die for his confidant" and "if you treat me as a national hero, I will repay you as a national hero."

This kind of monster will not easily join any force, but once it recognizes one, it will devote itself to the cause until its death, and is extremely loyal.

Unless she did something that angered God and man, causing great disappointment and disheartenment to the old sheep demon, it would be difficult for her to betray him.

The way to ward off evil spirits is to use virtue rather than tricks, to use the truth rather than strategies, and to use courtesy rather than power.

Using magic to control subordinates is ultimately inferior; taming the old sheep monster is considered upper-middle level.

Gongyang Ru did not stay long.

She had some realizations that she needed to digest.

…………

Send away Gongyang ru.

Jin Chanzi gave Hongyu a bottle of morning dew and a Baixuedan.

Hongyu was happy and Chickadee was envious.

After expressing his gratitude, Jin Chanzi asked about the night banquet at the Hu Mansion. Shanque immediately perked up and his eyes lit up.

After collecting the reward, Hongyu replied respectfully:
"My Lord, at last night's banquet, 90% of the nearby Tongmai realm demons attended the banquet. The Hu family has at least nine fox servants, all of whom have reached the Henggu realm. The eldest son of the Hu family has reached the Zhidao realm, and the second daughter of the Hu family has reached the Tongmai realm. There are buildings in the cave, and the heritage is profound."

"Old Master Hu is even a great demon of the first rank."

When talking about this, Hongyu looked serious.

Shanque was stunned and Jin Chanzi had a serious expression.

The former was that he could not imagine that there was a great demon in charge of the Hu Mansion, and the latter was that he could not imagine that the great demon in the Hu Mansion was still alive.

The "Records of Observations" left by the middle-aged swordsman mentioned that the Daqian Dynasty had already stipulated:

There is a seventh-rank city god in charge of the county town.

The towns and villages have nine levels of land guardians.

The Hu Mansion had been located in the county town before, and there was a high possibility that a great demon was in charge. She thought that the Hu Mansion moved because a great demon had fallen, and that the demon had moved away to the mountains to prevent revenge from its enemies.

Now it seems that the truth is more complicated than imagined.

Fortunately, Jin Chanzi had an open-minded personality and did not dwell on the matter too much. After all, the affairs of the Hu Mansion had nothing to do with her.

I'm only trying to find out information out of caution.

After knowing that there was a great demon in charge of the Hu Mansion, Jin Chanzi told the Sparrow Spirit not to continue to inquire about the news of the Hu Mansion, lest the news leak out and attract the attention of the great demon, which would bring trouble to himself.

You should be more cautious in normal times, keep a distance from the Hu Mansion, and keep out of each other's way. This is what you should do with the little monsters under your command.

"I will not take back that bottle of Moon Dew."

"But you need to find one of the demons, the cow, the horse, and the pig, for me." "I will reward you after you succeed."

What is given cannot be taken back.

Jin Chanzi did not ask the tit fairy for moon dew, but just asked her to do another thing and turned back to the cave.

.........

Time flies, and half a year passes in a flash.

In addition to practicing, Jin Chanzi also carves five-tone formation talismans.

One day, the dog demon Gou Yi and the bird demon suddenly came to the door.

Jin Chanzi walked out of the cave and met him.

"What brings you here this time?"

The three demons under her command have different personalities.

The tit Yingniang is lively and active, the chicken essence Huangthus is bold and mature, and the dog demon Gouyi is simple and honest.

If it wasn't for something important, the dog demon wouldn't come to disturb you.

Gou Yi stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, I know a pig spirit. We are friends from the same village. In the past, Taoist Master Yan came to the village to catch monsters. I fled separately from him. I was unlucky and fell into the hands of Taoist Master Yan, but my friend was lucky enough to escape."

"After learning that the master was looking for the pig demon, I asked Yingniang to keep an eye on the matter. I also often wandered around the villages at the foot of the mountain, leaving marks. Not long ago, I finally contacted my old friend."

"I came down the mountain on purpose to meet an old friend. He has been wandering around these years and has been living a very unhappy life. He hides in abandoned houses during the day and eats leftovers at night. He has never stayed in a village for half a year. After hearing about the existence of the master, he is willing to be introduced by me and join the master's army."

"It's just that he has always loved food and has always wanted to learn cooking. However, he doesn't know how to transform himself into a human. Once he appears in front of people, he will be hunted down and everyone will want to kill him. I hope the Lord can give him a chance so that he can get what he wants."

Jin Chanzi agreed.

It's not easy to meet a pig demon who knows you well.

The dog demon Gou Yi was overjoyed. After bowing to express his gratitude, he immediately left and ran out of the mountain. The mountain sparrow demon followed him.

This is not only Gou Yi's achievement, but also her credit.

The most important thing is that the tit demon and the pig demon hit it off right away and to some extent, they had similar interests.

After watching the dog and the bird leave, Jin Chanzi returned to the cave.

She already had an idea about who would be the cooking teacher for the pig demon.

She had money in her hands, so she ordered Hongyu to go down the mountain to buy some cooking utensils and seasonings, and taught the pig demon cooking skills and introduced him to the basics.

In order to find a legitimate reason for himself, Jin Chanzi planned to ask Hongyu to buy some more recipes to show his unique talent in this area, so that he could teach the pig demon openly.

If trained properly, the pig demon will behave well, and Jin Chanzi and the demons under his command will be able to enjoy delicious food without leaving the mountain in the future.

Although there is a kitchen monster in the Hu Mansion, Jin Chanzi has never thought of sending the pig monster to the Hu Mansion to learn skills. Before she finds out the reason why the Hu Mansion moved into the mountains, she will not rashly contact it to avoid getting into trouble.

The next morning, the dog demon came again.

A emerald green bird stood on the dark fur on its forehead, followed by a weak-looking pig demon. Its eyes were evasive and it looked left and right, full of vigilance. Its white fur was rough, yellow and tangled.

Staying beside the paulownia tree, Gou Yiren stood up and bowed, and the pig demon immediately followed suit with a sincere attitude.

"I have been ordered to bring the pig demon Zhu Dasheng here. I beg the master to show himself to see him."

The ground surged and a hole appeared.

A young green and golden cicada moved its six legs and crawled out.

Although it is small in size, it has a terrifying aura, like a mountain. The pig demon is timid, and has been depressed and frustrated in recent years, making him even more cowardly. He was so scared that he fell to his knees on the ground, nodding his head rapidly and kowtowing continuously.

"Zhu Dasheng pays homage to the senior and begs the senior to take me in with mercy. I will remember your kindness and will never forget it in my lifetime. From now on, I will be obedient to the senior, follow his orders, and be loyal to him."

Looking at Zhu Dasheng, Jin Chanzi was a little dissatisfied. This pig demon was more cowardly than she had imagined. Although his experience was pitiful and made the demons sympathize with him, she was not running a charity.

If Zhu Dasheng cannot stand on his own in the future, it will be difficult for him to shoulder big responsibilities, and he will live a mediocre life. If he is not helped at all, it may even cause harm.

Jin Chanzi said nothing.

The dog demon and the bird demon all fell silent.

The pig demon didn't even dare to make a sound to disturb them.

The scene was silent for a moment, and the atmosphere was dull and depressing.

After a long time, she finally exhaled and spoke.

"Since you are here, stay for a while."

"I will fulfill my promise and teach you cooking. As for how much you can learn and whether you can stay, it depends on your ability."

"Heaven moves with vigor, and a gentleman should constantly strive to improve himself. If you can overcome your fear and stand up again before I become a great demon, you can follow me like Gou Yi and get my protection."

"Otherwise, find another way out and wish for the best."

"Of course, if you achieve something in cooking, I will also consider keeping you."

Zhu Dasheng immediately kowtowed and thanked him, "Thank you for providing me with a place to stay. I will study hard and practice cooking skills, and try my best to overcome my fear and not let you down."

The dog demon was delighted.

The birds are even more excited.

Jin Chanzi asked the mountain sparrow spirit to bring 20 taels of silver to Hongyu and ordered her to go down the mountain to buy cooking utensils and recipes, as well as some rice, flour, meat, vegetables and various seasonings.

He also asked Gou Yi to settle Zhu Dasheng, while he returned to the cave.

…………

Life in the mountains is monotonous and boring.

The pig demon adds a touch of novelty to the lives of Jin Chanzi and other demons.

He can often be seen wielding a spatula.

Zhu Dasheng did have some talent. He learned cooking very quickly and mastered it at once, which made Jin Chanzi look at him with higher regard.

In just three years, he was able to prepare a banquet. It wasn't very good, but it could be presented to the villages at the foot of the mountain.

The tit demon and the dog demon were the happiest.

The former is because of food, her gossip circle is larger; the latter is because of the company of good brothers and their mutual support.

During the three years, the cicada shed its shell three times.

She has shed her shell twenty-eight times, her cultivation has become more profound, her body has become stronger, and her magic power has become more vast.

The little demons under his command have made progress in their cultivation.

Hongyu has completed the first round of small circulation.

As a result of receiving rewards, the tit demon and the dog demon both reached the peak of the horizontal bone realm, while the chicken demon was slightly inferior.

The pig demon's cultivation is slightly lower than that of the chicken demon.

The old goat demon has the highest level of cultivation. With the enlightenment of knowing things through investigation and "Ode to the Sheep", he embarked on the path of Confucianism and became a being in the realm of knowing the Tao.

In late summer and early autumn, cicadas begin to sing again.

With Wutong tree as the center, cicadas chirping can be heard for three miles.

The chicken spirit brought the bird with yellow feathers like chrysanthemums. Its feathers were stained with blood. It walked to the side of the phoenix tree, knelt on the ground like a human, and kowtowed, saying:

"I, Huang Yu, have lost my sense of propriety, and I apologize to my lord."

Inside the cave, Jin Chanzi was stunned.

I opened the cave entrance and climbed out of the cave. I saw that the yellow thrush's feathers were bloody and many feathers had fallen off. I couldn't help but ask curiously:

"What are you asking for?"

Huang Yu did not dare to hide anything and told him everything:

"Half a year ago, with the help of the sparrow monster, I found the trace of a bull monster. This monster is an old yellow ox that has gained spiritual power. It has only been in the Tao for five years. It is diligent and down-to-earth, and has helped the master to cultivate the land for more than 30 years."

"I invited him to the mountain, but he never agreed. He just wanted to stay in his master's house and work like a slave to repay his kindness."

"Because I don't have any confirmation, I dare not report it easily."

"Until a few days ago, when Xiao Yao went there again, the bull demon was driven out of the house by its owner and thrown into the forest to fend for itself."

"After my subordinates persuaded him in every possible way, he finally gave in."

"It's just that the bull demon couldn't let go of its former master, so it wanted to go back and take one more look to make sure they were safe before leaving."

"I didn't expect that there was another hidden reason behind the expulsion of the bull demon by the old master. It turned out that when the village bully came to the village to inspect the farmland, he personally witnessed the old yellow ox plowing ten acres of land every day, and he kept it in mind."

"In the past, the bully didn't dare to act rashly because his father had suppressed him. But half a month ago, the bully's father passed away. After he was no longer suppressed, he successfully took over the family business. He immediately put pressure on the old man Tian, ​​the former owner of the bull demon, and coerced and bribed him to hand over the ox."

"If it were any other property, Old Man Tian would have given it up without hesitation, thinking of it as spending money to ward off disaster and to buy peace."

"But the old ox definitely can't do that!"

The chicken spirit told the story of the bull demon and old man Tian.

…………

More than thirty years ago.

A shepherd boy often herded a calf.

They are equally innocent and curious, and have pure minds.

They quickly developed feelings for each other after spending so much time together.

On the hillside outside the village, a man was playing the shepherd's flute, another was eating grass, and there were butterflies flying by, forming a harmonious rural picture.

The shepherd boy and the calf worked together from sunrise to sunset; they eavesdropped outside the school together and were chased away by the teacher; they hid from the rain in the haystack together and kept each other warm; they ate and drank together and grew up together:
Your horns are curved, and my tail is bald.

Holding the short flute and long whip together, they chased each other to the eastern hills of Nanlong.

The sun is setting, the grass is far away, and the cows are walking slowly. I am the only one who knows that the cows are tired and hungry.

I sing on the cow and sit under the cow. When I return home at night, I lie down beside the cow.

I have been herding cattle for many years without any worries, but I am afraid of having to pay the rent and sell my cattle.

Years go by and time flies.

The shepherd boy has grown into an adult, and the calf has grown into a strong bull.

Together they reclaimed wasteland, planted grains, transformed themselves from tenant farmers to self-employed farmers, and lived a happy and promising life.

The Tian family had more than ten acres of land, all reclaimed by one man and one cow.

They have a deep bond and work well together, just like brothers.

In spring, the boy would look for the tenderest grass for the cows.

In summer, the young man would fetch water for the cows to wash their fur.

In autumn, the young man would store up rich fodder himself.

In winter, the young man would brave the snow to repair the sheds for the cows.

The young man treats the cow with sincerity, and the cow does the same.

In addition to working hard in the fields, they would bring all kinds of wild fruits from the mountains to feed the boys and improve their meals.

Mr. Tian’s wife married into the Tian family riding a yellow cow.

Tian Zhuanghan's son grew up on the back of an ox.

Old Man Tian's daughter-in-law was sent to the village by Huang Niu for medical treatment overnight.

Old Man Tian's grandson is also healthy under the care of the ox.

The old man Tian and his family are happy and harmonious, and the old ox has made a great contribution to this.

The Tian family, a family of seven, has a very close relationship with the old ox.

Support each other and rely on each other.

Even in years of severe drought when life was difficult, they never thought of selling the cattle, and the cattle would venture into the mountains to bring back wild fruits for them.

Old Man Tian has been taking care of the old ox for more than 30 years.

Old Man Tian’s wife has taken care of the old ox for more than twenty years.

Old Man Tian’s son has been taking care of the old ox for twenty years.

In the hearts of the Tian family, the old ox has long been a relative.

The old ox has taken care of three generations of the Tian family for more than 30 years, working diligently and conscientiously. In his heart, they are also his own cows.

Because of this, after learning that the bully coveted the old ox, Old Man Tian was filled with righteous indignation. On the surface, he pretended to be submissive and said that he would consider it for a few days, but in fact he had no intention of handing over the old ox at all.

That night, the candles were bright.

Old Man Tian asked his grandson to take the old friend to the river to take a bath and sent the ox away. After secretly discussing with his family, the Tian family unanimously agreed to send the old ox into the forest because they knew that the bully was vicious and if it fell into his hands, the old ox would be useless and nothing would be left.

…………

The next morning, it was still dark.

It was pitch black all around, with only the waning moon providing light.

While there was no one around and the villagers were still asleep, Old Man Tian tiptoed out of the house, leading his old ox.

They headed westward until they reached the foot of Cangshan Mountain. Only then did the man and the ox stop, loosen the nose ring and throw away the reins.

Old Man Tian reached out and touched the old ox's forehead. His voice trembled as he tried his best to suppress his tears and said in a deep voice:

"At thirty, an ox is always smart. I have raised you for thirty-five years, and we have lived together day and night. I know you better than I do my old wife. If you eat half a bundle less or bark less, I know what you are thinking. I have long seen that you have understood human nature and have awakened your spiritual wisdom."

"An ordinary strong ox can't plow ten acres of land even if it works hard all day. How can a dying old ox like you do it?"

"You are the oldest working ox in this village."

"The villagers have long been whispering that you have become a spirit, and they are secretly planning to ask a Taoist priest to capture you."

"The teacher said that all good things must come to an end. The fate between this old man and your family has come to an end. I am afraid I will not be able to support you in the future."

"I heard there are many monsters in the mountains. This deep forest is your future home. Rather than being trapped in the village, living a mediocre life with your life in danger, it is better to go into the mountains. Maybe in the future you can cultivate and become a human being like the monsters in the picture books."

"Old friend, I will let you go today. Be careful in the forest. You are honest and easy to be bullied. It is best to find a demon king to protect you, practice peacefully, and live a stable life."

"Don't let me, an old man, who is half buried in the earth, still worry about you and have no peace even when I am old."

After he finished speaking, Old Man Tian picked up a wooden stick and started driving the old ox into the mountains. The bull demon was reluctant to leave and kept mooing, echoing at the foot of Cangshan Mountain, full of reluctance and sadness.

No matter how old man Tian drove it away, the old cow would not move, its cries became more and more sorrowful, and its old eyes were filled with tears that could not stop flowing.

Seeing this scene, Old Man Tian felt reluctant, but when he thought of the village bully, he suddenly became determined, gritted his teeth and swung the stick hard.

He used all his strength to strike the stick.

Even though the bull demon had thick skin and flesh, it still felt extremely painful.

After a few blows, the bull demon realized that Old Man Tian was determined to drive him away. He had no choice but to walk into the mountains, looking back every few steps.

Watching his old friend walking away, Old Man Tian dropped the wooden stick in his hand. His fingers trembled, but he still pretended to be calm.

Until he could no longer see the bull demon, the old farmer finally couldn't hold it in anymore and squatted on the ground, crying loudly.

…………

(End of this chapter)